Wang Ji had spent 1,200 military merits to order eight A8 Grade throwing knives—or rather, throwing needles. They were sharp little blades about as thick and long as a finger. Each was only a quarter the size of a standard throwing knife. That was why they were so cheap.
He exchanged the remaining seven hundred or so military merits directly for cash. It wasn't a great deal, but he was short on money right now. His account instantly gained more than seven million. Wang Ji felt like he could walk with his back a little straighter.
Home! Back home right away! Money was no good if you didn't spend it!
He boarded the train to Yangzhou City and was back in less than half an hour. When he arrived at the entrance to Mingyue Residential Area, looking travel-worn, the gate guard stopped him.
"Mr. Wang, someone's been waiting for you for five days. We didn't let him in without your permission. Look, he's over there!"
Wang Ji was surprised. Who would wait here for five days? He looked over curiously. "What the—Fatty Yu!" It was the supervisor from the garbage-sorting plant where Wang Ji used to work odd jobs!
Fatty Yu's hair was greasy. From the looks of it, he'd spent all five days sitting in his car, with the window rolled down as he waited.
When Fatty Yu saw Wang Ji, he rushed over with a miserable look, trembling as he hurried forward to grab Wang Ji's leg. Wang Ji kicked him away in disgust.
"Wang Ji... No, Brother Wang, I was wrong! I came to give you your wages!" Fatty Yu said, sniffling and wiping away tears. He was genuinely terrified. He hadn't known Wang Ji had become a Quasi-Martial Artist, but his brother-in-law had connections. After hearing that an odd-job worker had become a Quasi-Martial Artist, his brother-in-law had planned to build a relationship with him. But when he looked into it, he found out that Fatty Yu had withheld Wang Ji's wages and fired him. Then he also found news reports that the two people who attacked Wang Ji had been sentenced to life imprisonment.
There was no need to build a relationship now. They'd be lucky if Wang Ji didn't hold a grudge. The garbage-sorting plant's owner had beaten his brother-in-law black and blue, then sent him with the money to apologize.
Fatty Yu had been frightened by his brother-in-law. All he could think was that the men who attacked Wang Ji had been sentenced to life. If Wang Ji held a grudge against him and found a chance to frame him, surely he could get him six months or a year. Fatty Yu was terrified.
After listening to his rambling apology and explanation, Wang Ji finally understood what had happened. His resentment suddenly faded away. "Come on. I'll go take a look at the garbage-sorting plant."
"Huh?" Fatty Yu was confused.
"Can't I?"
"Of course you can!" Fatty Yu nodded quickly.
Half an hour later, Wang Ji arrived at the garbage-sorting plant in Fatty Yu's car. Fatty Yu's brother-in-law, the plant's owner, was waiting for him at the entrance. When Wang Ji casually mentioned that he was already an Advanced Warrior, the owner's originally warm manner instantly took on a note of respect.
A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Quasi-Martial Artist was impressive enough. He had potential, but it was still only potential. Judging by his current strength, they could speak as equals.
But a seventeen-year-old Advanced Warrior? Becoming one just two months after reaching Quasi-Martial Artist status? Even an outsider like him could imagine what that meant. Wang Ji was already powerful enough to throw his weight around with a small-business owner like him.
"After learning what happened, I felt truly awful. I failed to keep my relative in line. I'd like to offer a million as compensation. What do you think?" The owner adopted a very deferential posture.
"Brother-in-law..." Fatty Yu cried out.
A few days ago, Wang Ji would have been thrilled. But now, a million or so really wasn't much. Wang Ji smiled. "No need. I'm not short on money. I have an elder, Uncle Yan, who works in our garbage-sorting workshop. I respect him like family. I'll go see him in a bit."
The plant manager immediately understood his meaning. "I know Master Yan. He works hard and has a good head on his shoulders. I was already planning to promote him to workshop supervisor. We'll improve his pay, give him a mid-range car, and let him stay in one of the company's apartments, which are well over fifty square meters."
Wang Ji smiled. "Let's have some tea! Some tea!"
Then Wang Ji left casually. Behind him, Fatty Yu wailed, "Brother-in-law, now that Old Yan's the workshop supervisor, what about me? You can't just abandon me..."
"You? I'd sooner leave you to rot!"
Mingyue Residential Area.
Wang Ji enjoyed a nice bath at home. When Wang Yan returned around nine, he said, "Sis, you don't need to work anymore!"
"What's going on, little bro?" Wang Yan asked.
Wang Ji transferred three million to her.
"Ding!" Wang Yan checked and her eyes widened. "Little bro, did you... rob a bank?"
Wang Ji smiled. "Sis, you're underestimating how much a martial artist can earn!"
Wang Yan glared at him. "Don't try to fool me! The son of Auntie Wang next door is a martial artist too, and he became one a year before you. He's already an Intermediate Warrior, but he still can't earn this much in a year!"
Wang Ji took out his martial artist certificate and smiled. "Look, I was specially recruited! They issued it without even making me take the practical exam. I'm an Advanced Warrior! Your little brother's a genius!"
Wang Yan looked at the balance, then at Wang Ji. Suddenly, she cried out and leaped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Aaaaaah!"
"Hey! Hey! What's gotten into you, Wang Yan? Get down!" Wang Ji flushed bright red.
"Hmph!" Wang Yan climbed down with an air of superiority. "I'll keep the money safe for you. You can use it to get married!"
"Come on! Why are you just like Mom?" Wang Ji said glumly. "It's for you two to spend!"
"What could possibly cost that much?" Wang Yan glared.
It turned out there was plenty to spend it on.
The next morning, Wang Ji took Wang Yan and their mother to the biggest mall. A Tiger-Type Tough Off-road Vehicle cost two million. Then he bought the family a regular sedan—comfortable, though not luxurious—for another seven or eight hundred thousand. The household items, food, and clothes they picked up were relatively cheap; a little over a hundred thousand filled the trunks of both cars.
"You... You're such a spendthrift!" Wang Yan complained.
Wang Ji thought it was fine. In this world, he earned money to spend on his sister and mother. He was sure that three million was nothing to him now, and would mean even less to him in the future.
"Ding!"
Wang Yan's eyes widened again. "What are you doing?"
Wang Ji smiled. "This is the money I want you to look after!" He transferred another three million. That left him with just over a million. But it didn't matter. The next time he went into the wilderness, he would definitely be a War General.
A War General! That was enough to give his sister and mother a comfortable, carefree life. Wang Ji relaxed, stretching luxuriously. This was why he worked so hard and never wanted to stop training.
Home was where his heart would always be.
That evening, Wang Ji was training.
"Wang Ji! Your martial artist registration suddenly changed to Advanced Warrior! I got a notification about the update and nearly jumped out of my skin!" Jiang Nian called to ask.
Wang Ji smiled. "It's a long story. The Military should've already contacted our martial arts hall, right?"
Jiang Nian said, "The Military and Wu Tong, the manager at our Extreme Pavilion, reviewed it. There's no problem with the process. But how did you suddenly become an Advanced Warrior?"
Wang Ji smiled and explained, "I went into the wilderness by myself..."
"What? You went into the wilderness alone? That was reckless! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is?" Jiang Nian cried out.
Wang Ji reassured him. "I just wanted to try it out. I didn't go deep into the wilderness. I happened to run into a beast tide and helped the Military kill some monsters. They made an exception and certified me as an Advanced Warrior."
"So you killed an Advanced Beast Soldier-level monster on your own?"
"Yep!"
"You... Fine! I don't understand the world of geniuses. Just be careful. You'll live longer if you're careful!" Jiang Nian lectured him earnestly.
"Understood, Coach."
"Come over to my place for dinner sometime! I still need to have a proper talk with you!" Jiang Nian went on and on.
The next morning, at Yi'an No. 3 High School. The school hadn't changed at all.
"Whoa! Wang Ji, you're back! I heard you became a Quasi-Martial Artist! I'm so jealous! You have no idea how much of a stir you caused at our school for those few days! The whole place was packed, with firecrackers going off everywhere... Now you can get into the First or Second Military Academy without taking the entrance exam, right?" Fatty Yu exclaimed.
Wang Ji tossed his head. "Of course! I told you, when I become the strongest person on Earth, I'll protect you!"
Fatty Yu rolled his eyes. "Oh, give it a rest! You've got a big head now, don't you?"
"Didn't you say firecrackers were going off and the place was packed? If I'm a genius martial artist, can't I look after you?" Wang Ji glared.
"Get lost!" As usual, Fatty Yu pulled out a dirty magazine and secretly flipped through it.
"Hey, kid, reading that stuff is bad for your health! Here, take this copy of the Tao Te Ching. Now this is the good stuff!" Wang Ji said earnestly.
"Get lost! Go die!"
School let out.
"Look, that's Luo Feng!" a classmate beside them said enviously.
"So that's Luo Feng! I heard he's the strongest of the three senior students at our school!" "Yeah!"
"Senior Luo Feng..."
Luo Feng suddenly walked over. "Hello! I'm Luo Feng. Nice to meet you, Senior Wang Ji!"
Before you continue